COLLECTOR GUIDE
WHY DELVAUX IS THE BAG INSIDERS NOTICE FIRST
Long before quiet luxury became a trend, Delvaux had already spent nearly two centuries perfecting it. Here is what makes the Belgian Maison far more interesting than many people realise.
OLDER THAN BELGIUM
Delvaux was founded in Brussels in 1829, one year before Belgium became an independent country. By 1883, the Maison had become an official supplier to the Belgian Royal Court, placing it at the centre of the country’s luxury history long before most people had even heard the term “quiet luxury.”
Some brands sell heritage. Delvaux has simply lived it.
THE MODERN HANDBAG STARTS HERE
In 1908, Delvaux registered the Princesse, which the Maison describes as the first luxury handbag patent in the world. More than 3,000 designs have since been recorded in its Livre d’Or, the house archive where creations are sketched and catalogued.
That makes Delvaux not simply old, but genuinely foundational.
WHY THE BRILLANT MATTERS
The Brillant arrived in 1958, inspired by the architecture of the Philips Pavilion at Expo 58 in Brussels. Its structured silhouette and horseshoe-shaped buckle turned architectural thinking into leather goods. Today, even the Brillant Mini is assembled from 64 distinct leather pieces.
WHAT I’D TELL A CLIENT
“What makes the Brillant interesting is that the simplicity is deceptive. Once you handle one, you start noticing the construction, the leather, the balance of the shape. It’s very ‘if you know, you know’.”
WHO WEARS IT
Delvaux has quietly found its way into the wardrobes of women who rarely need an obvious logo to make a point. Rihanna has worn the Maison repeatedly, while the Brillant has also remained closely associated with Belgian royalty and an international client base drawn to discretion over visibility.
WHY WE KEEP COMING BACK TO DELVAUX
What keeps Delvaux interesting is that the bags reward attention. The craftsmanship is obvious in person, the leather feels considered, and the designs carry enough history to matter without ever feeling museum-like.
Through The Select Finder, we can assist with selected pieces, private appointments and more specific Delvaux requests across London, Paris and beyond.
